Better Words to Sound More Fluent in English!

If you always say «very» (very big, very small, very happy), your English might sound repetitive! Native speakers use stronger words instead of «very» to sound more natural. Let’s upgrade your vocabulary!

1. Better Words for «Very Big»

❌ Very big → ✅ Huge / Enormous / Gigantic
✅ That house is enormous!
(¡Esa casa es enorme!)

❌ Very small → ✅ Tiny / Miniature
✅ My phone is tiny compared to yours!
(¡Mi móvil es diminuto comparado con el tuyo!)

2. Better Words for «Very Happy»

❌ Very happy → ✅ Thrilled / Overjoyed / Ecstatic
✅ She was thrilled with the news!
(¡Estaba encantada con la noticia!)

❌ Very sad → ✅ Devastated / Heartbroken
✅ He was devastated after losing his job.
(Estaba destrozado después de perder su trabajo.)

3. Better Words for «Very Cold»

❌ Very cold → ✅ Freezing
✅ It’s freezing outside!
(¡Hace un frío helado afuera!)

❌ Very hot → ✅ Boiling / Scorching
✅ It’s boiling today!
(¡Hace un calor sofocante hoy!)

4. Better Words for «Very Tired»

❌ Very tired → ✅ Exhausted / Drained / Worn out
✅ I’m exhausted after work!
(¡Estoy agotado/a después del trabajo!)

5. Better Words for «Very Angry»

❌ Very angry → ✅ Furious / Livid
✅ My boss was furious about the mistake!
(¡Mi jefe estaba furioso por el error!)

6. Better Words for «Very Good» & «Very Bad»

❌ Very good → ✅ Excellent / Fantastic / Amazing
✅ The food was amazing!
(¡La comida estaba increíble!)

❌ Very bad → ✅ Terrible / Awful / Horrible
✅ The movie was terrible!
(¡La película fue terrible!)

7. Better Words for «Very Tasty»

❌ Very tasty → ✅ Delicious / Mouth-watering
✅ This pizza is delicious!
(¡Esta pizza está deliciosa!)

❌ Very hungry → ✅ Starving / Ravenous
✅ I’m starving! Let’s eat.
(¡Estoy muerto de hambre! Vamos a comer.)

Challenge: Try Using These Words!

Next time you want to say «very», use one of these stronger words instead!

Written by Aimee Wilkinson, Principal at The Harrogate International Academy